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Encumbrances: What does the future hold?

The Law Commission has recently made recommendations for a proposed new Land Transfer Act to replace the current Land Transfer Act 1952.

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Running a Family Trust

Make sure your family trust stands up to scrutiny. The Sunday Star Times recently published an article about Do-It-Yourself family trusts and how failure to manage them correctly can put the integrity of a trust at risk.

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Landlocked Land

Here are three useful updates about topics covered in previous articles: using your Kiwisaver funds to buy your first home, buying homes in a multi offer scenario, and grants for insulation for rental properties. These are particularly relevant if you’re buying your first home, selling a property in a buoyant market, or a landlord.

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Tenants in Common versus Joint Tenancy

When buying property it is important to consider the type of ownership that is appropriate for your particular circumstances.

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Disputes Between Co-Owners of Land and the Property Law Act 2007

If there is no formal agreement co-owners of real estate sometimes find themselves in dispute on a variety of issues relating to their joint venture property.

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How is a Trust’s Income Taxed?

Income earned by a trust can be either retained by the trust or it can be distributed to the trust’s beneficiaries.

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Bankruptcy and Trusts

The present economic downturn has thrown up the problem of what to do when a settlor and/or a trustee becomes bankrupt. This article looks at possible remedies for both situations.

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Loans and Capital Distributions to Beneficiaries

In the last issue of Trust eSpeaking (September 2008), we discussed the scenario that often occurs when trustees provide funds to beneficiaries, for example, to help in the purchase of a house.